Gorilla Treking - Rwanda
Discussion
We did this as part of a longer journey with Exodus (their Gorilla and Masi Mara trip). I would whole heartedly recommend Exodus. It's still quite basic but well organised. From what I understand they are a competitor to Dragoman but slightly more upmarket. Think younger couples / more adventerous older middle aged folks rather than students on gap years as customers.
My thoughts on it are
1. Do it, the limited time you have with the Gorillas is amazing and you will never forget it
2. Do go to Rwanda rather than trying the visits near the Congo, Congo is still way too dangerous for normal folk. A group we met had been held up by folks with well used AK47's and had all belogings removed from their overland truck
3. The organisation in Rwanda (?Rhungerhi national park) is very good. The fees payable go to all of the local community so the whole community is motivated to try and preserve the Gorillas and their habitat.
4. You will be grouped into different groups depending upon how far you want to walk to visit "your" gorilla family, so it is very likely that groups from different tour companies will all be meeting up at national park HQ before being divided up and then setting off with your ranger / armed escort. In this way it should nto matter too much which operator you use as the actual Gorilla visit is outside their control and is run by the Rwandans
5. If you go to Rwanda, do go to the genocide museum, and prepare to cry. It's a very moving place indeed
6. Rwanda as a country we found very beautiful and we were uplifted by how the country has decided to forgive the two ethnic groups for what happened and rebuild. They have not fogotten but they have moved on. We found it so much more positive than Uganda which just labours under decay and corruption.
Chris
My thoughts on it are
1. Do it, the limited time you have with the Gorillas is amazing and you will never forget it
2. Do go to Rwanda rather than trying the visits near the Congo, Congo is still way too dangerous for normal folk. A group we met had been held up by folks with well used AK47's and had all belogings removed from their overland truck
3. The organisation in Rwanda (?Rhungerhi national park) is very good. The fees payable go to all of the local community so the whole community is motivated to try and preserve the Gorillas and their habitat.
4. You will be grouped into different groups depending upon how far you want to walk to visit "your" gorilla family, so it is very likely that groups from different tour companies will all be meeting up at national park HQ before being divided up and then setting off with your ranger / armed escort. In this way it should nto matter too much which operator you use as the actual Gorilla visit is outside their control and is run by the Rwandans
5. If you go to Rwanda, do go to the genocide museum, and prepare to cry. It's a very moving place indeed
6. Rwanda as a country we found very beautiful and we were uplifted by how the country has decided to forgive the two ethnic groups for what happened and rebuild. They have not fogotten but they have moved on. We found it so much more positive than Uganda which just labours under decay and corruption.
Chris
Thanks Chris, that's good advice. I'd not looked at Exodus, although have a stack of thier brochures downstairs - I'd been more concentrating on just the gorilla trek as opposed to a longer holiday, however, with safari being one of my favourite hols, it's well worth thinking of combining them.
It's definately going to be Rwanda, I've had a quick look at Uganda, but the Congo's nowhere on my list to visit!
It's definately going to be Rwanda, I've had a quick look at Uganda, but the Congo's nowhere on my list to visit!
I did a similar overland trip 3 years ago with Dragoman. Awesome! I would totally second the comments about Rwanda - it's most most beautiful country I've ever been to, something I was totally unprepared for. Stunning. Do yet yourself to the Genocide Education Centre in Kigali, though be prepared they did have one of the mass graves open when we were there (the irony of the perished bodies now being white isn't lost). The gallery on the top floor is particularly harrowing, be warned.
On a more cheery note, the trek is a great experience, and well worth the time / money involved. IIRC they don't give you fixed dates, you're only give two (three?) day slot in which you will trek, so plan a few days for your one hour with the hairy ones. There is some flexibility of which family group to visit, and therefore a range of different treks, from an hour or so upto 6 hours. As usual the bigger groups are further away... We were lucky, ours were on the side of one of the volcanos and in clear sunlight, so the fast lenses and high isos weren't needed. If you are bothered about such things, try and get allocated a group that will be in the open and buy the best gear you can... I'm still kicking myself for not spending more on kit before I went. There's some photos in the travel section of my pbase account if you're interested (link in my profile).
Only other things to note are to be prepared for some tough climbing up wet 45 deg slopes on the side of the volcano, and take thick clothes as the nettles are mad and will sting through thick trousers.
On a more cheery note, the trek is a great experience, and well worth the time / money involved. IIRC they don't give you fixed dates, you're only give two (three?) day slot in which you will trek, so plan a few days for your one hour with the hairy ones. There is some flexibility of which family group to visit, and therefore a range of different treks, from an hour or so upto 6 hours. As usual the bigger groups are further away... We were lucky, ours were on the side of one of the volcanos and in clear sunlight, so the fast lenses and high isos weren't needed. If you are bothered about such things, try and get allocated a group that will be in the open and buy the best gear you can... I'm still kicking myself for not spending more on kit before I went. There's some photos in the travel section of my pbase account if you're interested (link in my profile).
Only other things to note are to be prepared for some tough climbing up wet 45 deg slopes on the side of the volcano, and take thick clothes as the nettles are mad and will sting through thick trousers.
VxDuncan said:
Only other things to note are to be prepared for some tough climbing up wet 45 deg slopes on the side of the volcano, and take thick clothes as the nettles are mad and will sting through thick trousers.
Forgot about this, Duncan is spot on the nettles are monsters! Thick gardening gloves are a good idea.Chris
We've got various Gorilla Trekking options. You can do it as anything from a 3-day "Express" visit to a two week Gorilla and Volcano trekking focused trip or of course add it to a longer overland or cross-continent trip.
If you want some prices and details just drop me an email on ben.hobson@statravel.co.uk
If you want some prices and details just drop me an email on ben.hobson@statravel.co.uk
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